DNA spray system effective at preventing robbery, according to National Police

Rates of theft have fallen up to 65 percent in stores that have the technology installed

Shifa Rahaman

According to a report released by national police force Rigspolitiet, the new DNA spray system, used as an anti-theft measure by banks, supermarkets and other institutions, is proving effective at deterring potential robbers from carrying out crimes.

Read more: Danske Bank to prevent ATM thefts with DNA spray

Rigspolitiet conducted an experiment testing the effectiveness
of the technology in 42 grocery stores around Copenhagen and found that in some cases the rates of theft fell by as much as 65 percent.

Better safe than sorry
The report, which was released in conjunction with the Confederation of Danish Enterprise and the Danish Association for Safety and Security, found that institutions employing the measure have reported a significant drop in the number of thefts.

“DNA spray works to deters thieves from committing the robbery, so it has great crime prevention value,” said lead researcher, Rune Holst Scherg.

The technology, which works by surrounding the robber in a cloud of invisible spray containing a unique DNA signature, lingers on the body of the suspect anywhere between four to six weeks and can be traced on clothes for up to a few months.

Since each spray has a unique DNA signature, a database can be used to trace it back to the store in which it was set off.

TOP STORIES

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs